Hawaii Medical Journal is committed to accurate, evidence-based, and ethical healthcare journalism. These standards guide our reporting and editorial decisions.

Accuracy & Evidence

Accuracy is our highest priority. We verify clinical claims through peer-reviewed sources and cite primary research with DOI references whenever available. We clearly distinguish between established evidence, preliminary findings, and expert opinion.

Articles covering clinical research include study design, sample size, and limitations when relevant. We do not overstate findings or imply causation from correlational data.

Medical Review

Articles containing clinical claims or treatment information are reviewed by physician editors before publication. Our editorial team includes board-certified physicians who verify medical accuracy and appropriate context.

Fairness & Balance

We seek comment from all relevant parties before publication, especially those who may be affected by our reporting. We present multiple perspectives on contested health policy issues and avoid false equivalence.

Independence

Hawaii Medical Journal maintains editorial independence from advertisers, healthcare institutions, and outside interests. Advertising is clearly labeled and separated from editorial content. We do not accept sponsored content or paid placements.

Transparency

We disclose potential conflicts of interest, funding sources for studies we cover, and any limitations of our reporting. When we rely on anonymous sources, we explain why anonymity was granted.

Corrections Policy

We correct errors promptly and transparently. When we make a factual error, we:

• Correct the error in the original article
• Add a correction notice explaining what was changed and when
• For significant medical errors, add a prominent correction at the top of the article

To report an error: Email [email protected] with the article URL and details.

Citation Standards

When reporting on published research, we include:

• The journal name and publication date
• DOI or direct link to the study when available
• Principal investigator and institutional affiliation
• Study design and key limitations

Opinion & News Separation

We maintain a clear separation between evidence-based reporting and editorial opinion. Editorials and commentary are clearly labeled. Staff reporters do not write opinion pieces on subjects they cover.

Updates to These Standards

These standards may be updated periodically. Significant changes will be noted with a revision date at the bottom of this page.

Last updated: March 2026